On 10/30/2013 03:05 PM, John Jason Jordan wrote: > I have ordered an HDHomerun to add TV functionality to my Xubuntu > desktop. I will want to watch only over the air broadcasts. According > to tvfool.com (a website that I learned about at the last Clinic) there > are roughly 20 stations approximately 4 miles SSW of my house (about > 220 degrees) and the weakest has a power of -47.5 dBm. I assume that > means that I probably don't need cutting edge antenna technology, > however, it would be most convenient to have it indoors and downstairs > in the middle of the house, although putting it in the attic wouldn't > be tremendously difficult. > > There are a bewildering number of indoor TV antennas on the market. I > could use some suggestions and advice from real world users - not only > as to makes and models, but also as to how it should be oriented. All I > know about RF is that it is tricky and unpredictable.
I suspect I'll need to follow John M's advice later on, but to get started I went to Radio Shack and got a simple dipole, the kind of antenna that's made from 300 ohm twinlead. I connected that to a 300/75 ohm balun and plugged that into my HDHomeRun. Before the clinic I got channel 10 easily. At the clinic and after I got home I didn't get channel 10 easily. I found another dipole hooked up to a stereo tuner I don't use anymore, and when I get time I'll give that a try to see if it makes any difference. But, it's possible that a simple dipole might work for you. It's cheap enough to be worth a try. -- Regards, Richard C. Steffens _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
